Arie Nol Auto Center, Inc

Critters and car repair

Tue, 11 Jul 2023 12:09:15 GMT

Customers coming to an auto repair shop want varying degrees of information. Some customers may want to have an in-depth discussion of the needed repairs with an explanation of what, where and why. Others want their vehicle to be repaired. No explanation needed.

I recently took my granddaughter to the Critter Barn in Zeeland. She loves petting the bunnies and watching them hop around. We were fortunate enough to have one of the staff members show us the newborn bunnies and share some information about rabbit genetics and behavior. It was very interesting to me and I appreciated the staff being willing to educate us. However, my granddaughter who is three, just wanted to pet the bunnies. That is what she did while I chatted with the staff member. We both left the Critter Barn with the experience/information that we valued and were satisfied with our visit.

The goal when a customer comes in is to ascertain what their level of needed information is, answer any questions and have them feel comfortable with the decision to repair their vehicle. We may be the experts, have the information and know why a certain service or repair should be performed but ultimately, making the customer feel that they were heard is an important part of the repair process.

We always welcome your questions and will answer them. We also respect that you may want a safe, reliable vehicle and don’t need to know how that happened, just that it did.

Lambos and Peep Toes

Fri, 31 Mar 2017 12:29:16 GMT

I was just down south and noticed two things. One, lots of Lamborghini, Aston Martins and Ferraris. Two, lots of peep toe shoes.

Being married to a car guy, i usually have those shiny, engine that purrs, crazy-expensive vehicles pointed out to me. I do appreciate how beautiful these vehicles are as they cruise by us. Living in Michigan, I realize that I'd rather have an all around vehicle that can be used twelve months out of the year. I'm obviously too practical to be an exotic car collector. A true car aficionado is willing to visit their vehicle wherever it is stored, visualizing the first sunny day they take it for a drive.

In the southern United States, their shoe requirements are different. A southern woman can wear peep toes year round. Sandals, espadrilles, flip flops etc—all those open toed, strappy, pretty shoes sit in my closet waiting. It doesn't make me happy to visit them in my closet. I bypass them on the way to boots and wool socks. Their soft pastel colors beckon me to wear them. The reality is that snow would ruin them, my toes would freeze, and while some people would appreciate my dedication to foot wear, most people would think I need to use more common sense.

Much like being passed by a Lamborghini on 131 in January. You could understand the urge to do this but would know it's not a good idea.

It seems that shoe lovers and car collectors have some things in common. For starters, we both have to use common sense and self-control. Although you really can't ever have too many pairs of shoes! Jay Leno would probably say you can't ever have too many cars.

Job Shadowing Opportunity

Fri, 03 Mar 2017 12:45:15 GMT

There has been a lot of talk about the automotive technician shortage. If you don’t work in a trade, you may not be aware of how few students currently enter a trade field. The push for a college degree is important but not all high school students need to pursue a degree to achieve their goals. If your son or daughter likes to disassemble items to see how they work, hopefully they'll have the opportunity to use that skill in their job if that's what they enjoy.

Being a naturally technical person is a gift. One I don't have but I watch it in action day-after- day. Most of the trades require post high school education. There are very few jobs you can walk into without some type of training in this day and age. We were fortunate to be asked to have a student from a local high school job shadow with us for part of a day. It's a great opportunity for all of us to share what we love about this business as well as give someone the opportunity to see what ‘a day in the life of a technician’ really looks like.

He had the opportunity to spend time with each technician, ask questions and see them working on vehicles. We talked about the various educational opportunities and the pros and cons of each. He will be a terrific technician someday and we’re excited that he’s looking forward to using his gifts and abilities in the automotive field. He loves cars and has spent time with his Dad working on the family vehicles. Not everyone has the chance to be introduced to this type of work as most people don't work on their own cars anymore.

Marrying a car guy has shown me that if you do what you love, pursue your dream and hone the skills you're naturally more adept at, you'll be happier and enjoy what you do everyday. I'm thankful for high schools that are supplying students with an opportunity to follow their passions by making information available to help them decide on their future. As a team, we are all appreciative of the chance to share our experiences in and passion for, the automotive industry!

A Lasting Legacy

Wed, 01 Mar 2017 12:54:39 GMT

Cameron was only three months old when his grandfather, Arie Nol, the founder of our business, passed away. Cameron has no memories of his own but he has heard many other people’s memories of Arie.

While working here, he has the unique opportunity to talk to people that worked with his grandfather or have customers share their stories about Arie. Arie loved what he did and shared his passion for cars with many people. He also loved people and enjoyed helping them and sharing his knowledge to enable them to keep their vehicles in safe condition. Even though Arie has been gone for almost twenty-five years, we still hear the stories of how he impacted people’s lives.

Cameron has been able to hear stories about his grandfather negotiating with vendors who’ve since retired but stop in to say “HI.” On occasion, he’s heard stories from people that shared how they had to deal with Arie after they caused damage to the family car by ignoring needed maintenance or driving less carefully than they should have been. He was very blunt and customers have shared how they still take their car maintenance seriously after their conversation as a teenager with Arie.

A customer was in the several days ago and shared with Cameron that as a young woman, Arie had helped her make good decisions to help keep her old car running. She told Cameron that Arie also told her when she needed to find another car and he guided her in choosing her next vehicle. In 1976, when Arie Nol opened the doors to Arie Nol Auto Center, he knew what his focus was and it’s so fulfilling to know that even though we are triple the size of the original business, service is still at the heart of what we do. Cameron and Jeff are proud to continue Arie’s legacy.

The Fitbit And Your Car Battery

Wed, 08 Feb 2017 12:16:32 GMT

I have a Fitbit that I may be mildly obsessed with. It was charging one day and I left the house and arrived at work without it. Walking anywhere seemed so pointless. No steps counted. No way to tell if I was going to make my 250 steps every hour that day. Did I even sleep well the night before? My Fitbit wasn’t there to tell me. I’d like to admit I’m exaggerating but I’m not.

We have several scanners that have the capability to let us know the health of certain parts of your vehicle. One of these that’s very important is your car battery health. I like seeing the printout from a battery test, especially when it’s bad. It shows the voltage and rates the battery’s health. Here’s my reasoning.

It’s cold out. Having your battery fail in Michigan in February will probably be miserable. You could have avoided this by having your battery tested periodically. It doesn’t take long and it’s painless. Finding out that your battery is weak is an opportunity to say, “Hey, I want to get in my car and have it start! I’m going to have my battery replaced.” Compare it to the feeling of turning your key and having your car try so hard to start but it just can’t. Finding someone to jump start your car and hoping they have jumper cables is not nearly as much fun as being warm and dry in your running car. So that little printed piece of paper is worth the five minute battery test.

We recommend having your battery checked roughly every two years when it’s newer. If you’re not sure of the age, have it checked. If it’s an older battery, have it checked more often.

The battery test is like a Fitbit for your car’s battery. Sure, you can’t strap on your battery and let it run continuously— but it’s simple enough that you can utilize the information it produces to help you see what your batteries health is and, if necessary, make changes. Next time you are having your car serviced, ask for a battery test so you know the health of your car’s energy source.

Cats vs. Dogs

Sat, 21 Jan 2017 12:22:14 GMT

I’ve been the observer in many discussions about which vehicle is the best. Many people that love cars have a particular favorite, with stories and statistics to back it up. Chevy vs. Ford, BMW vs. Mercedes Benz, Volkswagen vs. Audi, Honda vs. Toyota etc.

It’s like cat lovers vs. dog lovers. For every reason you love a particular brand, breed or make, someone has a reason you should choose something else. Everyone has an opinion. Cats are snobby and unloving and dogs are man’s best friend. Or, dogs are messy and cats are meticulously clean.

Choosing a car is a very personal decision. I like speaking with people when they are in the shop having an inspection performed about a vehicle they are interested in purchasing. Most people do their homework to determine what fits their lifestyle and driving needs. Sometimes everything fits the criteria, but they drive the vehicle and they just don’t like it. Maybe they just can’t get comfortable in the seat or they don’t like the dashboard layout. Or, there is something they just don’t like about the car.

Depending on where you are in life, you may be buying something strictly for utilitarian reasons. A minivan is a good example. They are mocked all the time, but as a former 1990 Ford Aerostar minivan driver, they can’t be beat when you have three small children. If children are out of the equation, the thirst for that sports car dictates what type of vehicle you choose. Doing your homework and determining what fits your needs is key to loving your vehicle. In case you wanted my input, the answers are cats and Volvos.

Don’t have a Snickers moment

Wed, 06 Apr 2016 12:42:02 GMT

I love the commercials that show an actor being grouchy, ornery or annoyed and then eating a Snickers candy bar and reverting to a different person. I’ve occasionally used it as a joke when I’m tired and said, “I need a Snickers bar!”. Coffee is usually the better answer for those moments.

Jeff and I were flying out of Ford airport and the flight was repeatedly delayed. The airport is under construction and there is only one restaurant available once you’ve gone through security. There isn’t a lot of space to walk and, if you’re obsessed with your Fitbit like I am, trying to get in a few steps is a challenge. Every hour or so we would be told we would be leaving in a certain amount of time and then the flight was delayed again.

Did I mention this was during Spring Break week? We were traveling for business but most of the people on our flight were on vacation. There was a group of kids that were traveling to Ecuador that were going to miss connections. It got so bad that the airport had pizza delivered when it had been about five hours after our original departure time.

When we arrived at our destination late at night, our luggage had been misplaced. It was in the airport but they weren’t really sure where. When we arrived in the lost luggage department we found we were one of several people in the same situation. The employees were helpful and funny. Everyone was joking while they tried to determine where our luggage was currently. There was also a bowl of Hershey’s Kisses on the counter that I made quite a dent in while standing there.

It was an example of realizing that “things happen” and sometimes, the person in front of you trying to help had nothing to do with the original issue. The teenagers were especially impressive as they sat, ate pizza and talked about what they would be doing with an unexpected day in their layover city. No complaining about the missed connections and missed day in Ecuador. One woman said, “I’m glad they realized there was a problem before we got into the air.” I agreed.

It was a good reminder to keep your cool in irritating situations because it doesn’t usually change the situation and probably negatively impacts someone else’s day. It’s the old adage, you get more bees with honey...

What’s in Your Wheelhouse?

Wed, 18 Nov 2015 12:31:12 GMT

I was speaking to a young woman who is a senior in high school. Her vehicle’s check engine light illuminated on her dashboard and she stopped by to have us check into it. While a technician was checking the vehicle, we had a conversation about finding a college. She has been participating in college visits to find one that suits her. She had visited the college my daughter attended, and we spoke about that as well as some of her upcoming visits to other colleges.

It was interesting because I had been reading about finding your strengths as it applies to the working world. The phrase I've heard lately is, “That’s in my wheelhouse.” It means that it's something which is within your area of expertise. I always thought it had to do with boats but after checking, found that it is a baseball term meaning a ball pitched right where you want it. You're most likely to hit the ball if it's in that area.

The customer I was speaking to was saying she wasn't sure what she wanted to pursue in college. You're fortunate if you know what career you want to pursue at eighteen years old, but it is more the norm to not know what you want to be doing five days a week for the next forty- some years after graduation.

Our technicians and service writers know that repairing cars and working with customers is ‘in their wheelhouse.’ They all enjoy learning and advancing. The challenge of new technology is something they enjoy. It interests me how each of them came to the realization that this is what they wanted to do. Being a good technician isn't something you fall into and decide to stick with usually. The good technicians have a real interest in cars and tend to pursue it even if they’re off the clock. It really is a passion.

I'm thankful to work with people who love what they do. I learn from them all the time. They're always willing to answer a question and I usually am shown the parts, etc., so I can accurately describe it, whether to a customer or for some other reason. Sometimes for my blog post.

Is what you do ‘in your wheelhouse?’ If you have high school or colleges students, helping them make those big decisions and hopefully pursue their passions is important. People who love what they do excel and enjoy their work.

Ratchet and Wrench

Wed, 02 Sep 2015 12:36:30 GMT

Ratchet and Wrench is an automotive industry publication that we've enjoyed reading since its inception several years ago. The magazine tells the story of someone who runs, owns or works in the automotive repair industry. They give a description of how they overcame a problem within their business or approached something from a different angle, and came up with a unique solution or idea.

We are really excited to be featured in an article in the September issue of Ratchet and Wrench . The focus of the article is Jeff's move from automotive technician to service advisor. It was a business decision that we made years ago as we grew the business. Jeff has always enjoyed working with customers, but in the past had worked mostly as a technician. It was a neat opportunity for us to share our story and hopefully encourage anyone that is currently trying to make a similar decision.

We've been blessed with terrific employees who've contributed to our business in so many ways. They've embraced the changes we've made over the years. Success has been a team effort at Arie Nol Auto Center and we appreciate the fact that we'll be celebrating our 40th year of business in 2016.

The Mouse: Car Carnage, What It Is and How It Happens

Wed, 12 Nov 2014 12:40:06 GMT

I call it “car carnage,” all of the things that happen to a vehicle and damage the working parts. Fire, heat, water, operator error, mice.

I remember the first time I saw a vehicle come in with intermittent electrical problems. After some investigation, it was diagnosed as mouse damage. I was shocked, I had no idea that happened. Then we got the full story.

The vehicle owner had a dog. The dog's food was kept in the garage and so was the car. The winter was cold. A certain mouse was too. Then, he found the perfect place, the engine compartment of a warm car located seconds from an endless supply of kibble.

The mouse settled into the engine compartment and did what all mice do, chew on wires. A lot of very important wires. The story ended sadly. The mouse perished and the car had electrical issues – not to mention an engine compartment littered with dog food.

Not all carnage features a tragic end for a furry creature. Some damage comes simply from driving with worn parts. The worn part stops working as it should and all the other parts try to compensate. This usually causes the owner of the vehicle a higher repair bill because other parts – not just the worn part – need to be replaced now too.

So, while you can't always avoid damage or wear, you can avoid some of it via proactive repairs. Oh, and if your dog food is in the garage, maybe invest in a mouse proof container.